Concentration Advice

[SW CQB 45]

I shoot a competition where the emphasis is on the fundamentals, unsupported, timed from 5 yds, 7 yds, 15 yds and 25 yds, total of 50 rounds with duty type weapons (revolver and semi auto) shooting at a B27 target for score.

With the goal being all 50 rounds in the X or 10 ring for a top score of 500.

Some of the biggest hurdles I have to scale is the high heat of south Texas, the sun in your face, of course marksmanship fundamentals....however I think I may have identified another which I think is a big one for me....concentration.

there is one more match and then the season is over. While I shoot with the top shooters of this league....I cant seem to step up in the area of consistency.

I thought I shot my 686 more consistently than I do my 1911. My avg with revolver is 495 + or - and with my auto is low 490s + or -.

one month, I do good and then the next I drop a few and the upper group is usually on separated by a few shots.

Usually I dont have time to shoot and my dry fire sessions are sometimes thin in the area of time (yeah...I need to make time)

the past few months, the mistakes I have been making are little silly ones and I think when I lose concentration....thats when the mistakes arise. another concentration crusher is when you see or feel a shot break and either you see one hole away from the group or know it will be bad....concentration starts to slip.

another mind "messer upper" is getting dinked by brass or someone showing up to the match with .357 sig or hot .40 cal and feeling the energy of that shot being fired causing you to move....URGHHHH!

I have always thought I was better with my revolver, so I shot revolver first and semi auto second. Yesterday I changed that and did it open my eyes to the title of this topic.

I shot my best score ever with the semi auto 498/500 and the two 9s came from the 25 yd line.

I shot a make up match right (the prior month was cancelled due to weather) after this one with the semi auto and recorded a 496/500 which is still good for me on the auto.

with that high....I strapped on my revolver with the mindset of I am doing well...and I shoot my revolver better than my auto....my vision was "set high"........WRONG!!!!!

I shot a 491/500 with the revolver.....wait a minute...thats my auto average. I was making little mistakes and the big one with the revolver which made me speed up was a missed reload.

I used Comp III speedloaders and have never had and issue and prefer a methodical approach to ensure a good load. I was so sloppy with my reload that 3 rounds came out of the cylinder when I began to dump the speedloader. Thinking back...I recall trying to speed my reload to gain a second or two to have more time to shoot slower to be more accurate. however this caused me to shoot faster because the 3 rounds were at least laying in my support hand which was still holding the revo...so I quickly "singled" them in and then shot fast. This was at the 15 yd. and it definitely affected my concentration level for the 18 shots from the 25 yd line.

since I was shooting a make up match too....I shot revolver again. at the 7 yard line...its 12 rounds with a reload 25 seconds. when I go to my reload....BAM....all six rounds come flying out of the speedloader when the rounds hit the cylinder. (I may have a bad speedloader) and for a moment I recall saying to myself (you are screwed!!!) but after what seemed like an eternity...I shook my support hand holding the revo to let the unchambered rounds fall to the groud and got another reload from my holder on my belt and slammed the remaining 6 into the target before the whistle blows. and luckily they were at least all in the 10....whewww!

my concentration was shot but I managed a 494/500 with this one.

this got me thinking....I dont necessarily shoot my revolver better than my semi auto....I start to fatigue or my concentration begins to fail.

I recall being rather hungry when I started shooting revolver but ate very good on the way to the range and had a banana right before I started shooting the semi autos. I was well hydrated and had plenty of water on in my shooting box.

I did shoot one match right after another (4 total) and since this is part physical and heavy on the mental game....I may have fatigued myself. I noticed my competition kept pushing me to hurry up and shoot and this may have been their tactic to push ahead.

some of my competition also use cheater guns or obviously not falling in the ranks of duty weapons. I prefer to stay with the spirit of the game and rules and not really looking to be a winner or brag like the top shooters do....I like to shoot, I am LE and teach firearms...so I like to keep my skills sharp and if I win or lose....its all part of being in this game.

I would like to push ahead showing the cheaters its not the weapons...its the shooter.

I am more harder on myself and reflect on the my mistakes to improve, but I cant seem to jump ahead which seemed to be only a few points here and there.

what techniques are utilized to maintain complete focus to perform your best whether the start of of the first match or the last match?

 

[AllAces]

Advice from Ty Webb

"Just be the ball(bullet), be the ball(bullet), be the ball(bullet). You're not being the ball(bullet) Danny."

 

[SW CQB 45]

"Just be the ball(bullet), be the ball(bullet), be the ball(bullet). You're not being the ball(bullet) Danny."

hmmmmm, if I was all 50 balls....I would say....lets go have a party in the Xring!!!!!!



I had to look up Ty Webb....DOH!

Caddyshack....one of my fav's.

Yup....I need to be the bullet.

 

[Dragon88]

Wear double hearing protection to reduce the noise from other shooters. Wear wrap-around shooting glasses to block light and movement from the sides. Shoot a lower power factor to reduce recoil and flinching. Completely forget about the last shot, the only one to concentrate on is the one you are about to break.

 

[SW CQB 45]

Wear double hearing protection to reduce the noise from other shooters. Wear wrap-around shooting glasses to block light and movement from the sides. Shoot a lower power factor to reduce recoil and flinching. Completely forget about the last shot, the only one to concentrate on is the one you are about to break.

Dragon....thanks for the advice.

I will dbl ear and get some side shades for the next and final match of the season.

I shoot wadcutters (allowed) for .38 and shoot a reduced load for 45 acp....3.5 VVN310 200lswc @1.250". this load is still snappy but 3.7 is the advertised minimum in the VV manual. it works with a 16lbs recoil spring.

I may try 3.4 on the last match.

 

[Dragon88]

I'd be hesitant to change your load right before a match. If it short stroked the gun you will really lose your concentration then. I'm working up loads for a new 1911 and I've read Clays is very soft shooting. It's next on my list to try, probably with a 15# spring.

 

[tomcatt51]

I will dbl ear and get some side shades for the next and final match of the season.

Get GOOD ear plugs, 30+ db NRR spongies, Peltor "NEXT" "NITRO" spongies are 32 db NRR. Put them IN your ears properly. You see them sticking out of people's ears like Frankenstein's electrodes all too often. They're not doing much good that way. Get a pair of 30 -33 db NRR muffs. Most electronics are only maybe 25 db NRR. You can get 30 db NRR Peltors from Midway for ~$20.00. It's hard to over emphasize how much shutting out the noise helps. Shoot, don't spectate. Be looking at your sights, not where your last shot went.

 

[AllAces]

Concentration 101

Before starting a 2700 or DR match I try to go through a standard routine:

1. Ear Plugs in and Muff on.
2. Set up everything at my position on the line.
3. Do a few stretching exercises.
4. Get my feet and body in the correct shooting position.
5. Close eyes; point down range at the target with index finger; open eyes. Repeat until I'm pointing at the target.
6. For rimfire, turn on red dot; point & aim at target; squeeze off a dry-fire; repeat a few times.
7. This next part I find the most difficult; I stand in the shooting position and try to mentally close out everything else; the shooters to the right and left; range personnel walking around checking things; I try to focus on the sequence of shooting; breathing; lifting the pistol; aiming; trigger squeeze; calling the shot; recoil; recovery; body relaxed.

I try to time all of this with when the first range commands happen so there's no "slack" time to BS with the shooter on the left or right.

Oh, make yourself a hot brass screen out of 1/4" hardware cloth and clamp it so the hot brass from the shooter on the left does not hit and distract you.

BTW, my load for 45 ACP bullseye is 3.7 gr N310; 200 gr LSWC match grade bullets from Penn Bullets; OAL=1.234"; 10 lb spring in a full size 1911. The brass falls just to my right with no feed or eject problems.

Hope this helps. Remember, be the bullet, be the bullet!

 

[SW CQB 45]

Shoot, don't spectate. Be looking at your sights, not where your last shot went.

tomcatt, thanks for the advice on the ears. Also, I am not looking at where I shot....but when I am gathering my sight onto my cluster....I can sometimes see a single hole out in the 9 or even 8....and then my mind starts to wander. Yes, I need to just focus on the next shot. hard to do.

dragon, I will stick with my same load and experiment in the off season.

all aces Oh, make yourself a hot brass screen out of 1/4" hardware cloth and clamp it so the hot brass from the shooter on the left does not hit and distract you.

BTW, my load for 45 ACP bullseye is 3.7 gr N310; 200 gr LSWC match grade bullets from Penn Bullets; OAL=1.234"; 10 lb spring in a full size 1911. The brass falls just to my right with no feed or eject problems.

hot brass screen????I am lost on this one. clamp it to what? and what is 1/4" hardware cloth or where do I find it?...lowes?

Ref your load....I wonder what spring I have in my gun now. I do run a buff and a tungsten guide rod to help steady. my brass is not by my feet though. I may try a 15# and keep working down.

tta (thanks to all)

 

[AllAces]

Springs & screens

Many full size 1911's come with a 16 lb spring. With the load you are using, try a 12, then a 10. I know some bullseye shooters using N310 who use an 8 lb spring. As for the screen, I'll try to post a photo of mine.

BTW, with my N310 load, I get a 3.4" drop from 25 to 50 yds. I zero at 25.

 

[SW CQB 45]

My Colt 1911 is a custom jobber.

Kart barrel, EGW bushing, quality trigger/hammer components @ 3.5#. Heinie Rear and undercut front sight.

it was originally set up for plain clothes duty carry, then I changed its role for a comp piece.

I assume it has a 16# recoil spring based on its stiffness to retract the slide.

Oh I very interested to see your brass deflector.

 

[scooter123]

While it may sound a bit odd, you may want to look into doing a bit of meditation or Yoga exercizes. I would also suggest snacking on something like a banana between stages, it's a bit amazing at how much effect low blood sugar can have on the mind.

 

[boatbum101]

Try filing serations on the back side of your front sight blade . If you can see the grooves you're focused on the sight , not the target or worse somewhere in between . Touch up with a little cold blue . Do you blacken / smoke your sights ?

 

[SW CQB 45]

Try filing serations on the back side of your front sight blade . If you can see the grooves you're focused on the sight , not the target or worse somewhere in between . Touch up with a little cold blue . Do you blacken / smoke your sights ?

Boatbum....I wear corrective lenses for the clearest front sight. The target is a blur.

Yes....I have a smoker and a pen.

 

[growr]

I would seriously invest in Lanny Basham's Mental Management CD/DVD. Your equipment is all fine and you certainly have the skills to actually shoot a 500. It is now a mental game.

An Olympic Gold medalist friend of mine (Lones Wigger Jr.) once told me after looking a set of my kneeling target that I shot a 200/200 (A36 smallbore rifle target) at a regional championship that had several other Olympic Gold medalists at was that I clearly had great ammo, a great rifle, good position and and good follow through. If I was NOT shooting 100's on the kneeling target all of the time it was because I did NOT have the want too's bad enough. Just how bad did I want to shoot a 10 on EVERY shot?
Lones taught me to go to the firing line with the thoughts of " You know HOW to shoot a 10, your gear will shoot ten's...Let's go shoot 10's...Your first round for record is a 10.....before I even fire the first sighting shot (if you get sighters). He was right in that I was actually firing that first 10 in my minds eye before even loading a round.

When you shoot a 10 or an X do you reinforce it with a mental statement like " My first round for record is a 10...that's like me! When it slips into the 9 ring or lower, then tell yourself " That's NOT like me" and focus on the shot coming up NOT on the one that you cannot do a thing about.

The other eye opener was when Lones talked about training he mentioned how so many people will work on the areas that they are weak on which is good, however there is much to be said for staying with something that is going extremely well.
For example he said that if your offhand is going really well, don't stop and move on to something else....stay with it to reinforce something that you are doing well at so as to really ingrain in your mind what it felt like to be in that groove and to stay with it as it is elusive enough as it is.

I believe that Champions Choice still sells the Lanny Basham series....his principles will carry over into all kinds of performance based activites.
Get a copy...listen and put the principles to work....perhaps soon we will hear that you fired a 500 and now do so routinely!!!

Keep us posted .....

Randy

 

[SW CQB 45]

thanks Randy...thats excellant advice.

I will look into that for the off season.